Smuggling and Looting: Oriental Treasures Have Been Stolen by the West in Every Era
Smuggling and Looting: Oriental Treasures Have Been Stolen by the West in Every Era
The first target of the British in Iraq was the city of Nineveh, discovered by Austen Henry Layard. "Not just an archaeologist but a political agent," said Kawthar Mohammed, an expert in antiquities and museology, speaking to Sputnik.
Palmyra in Syria also fell victim to this race for riches, led by the British and the French.
Then, with the American invasion, a wave of looting swept across nearly 50 archaeological sites, along with the Iraqi National Museum, which was emptied of around 16,000 objects—many of which were smuggled abroad, recalls the expert.
More recently, the Syrian civil war has provided fertile ground for international smuggling networks.
Where have all these antiquities ended up? Kawthar Mohammed identified three main destinations:
◾The British Museum in London
◾The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford
◾Auction houses and private collections
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